Leilani's Knitting Blog

I have completed tons of additional projects since moving over to Ravelry but here are a few for inspiration:

Aug 2009 Japanese girl in Kimono pattern purchased from here

I’ve been working on this project in short bursts in between a great many others. I made a few modifications. Of course, who doesn’t like dressing and undressing and changing a doll’s outfits?! So far she only has the one outfit but I made some changes to her so we can change her outfits if so desired.

Two spiral buns instead of a single round black. The whole hair piece comes off and on in case I want to change hair styles.
The hair flowers come off and on in case I want to change accessories. I beaded the flowers with red wire, crimp beads, silver, bugle and seed beads. I also added an adorable white flower button to the back. I added a strap to her shoes which also can come on and off at will. The belt doubles around and I added two strains of single crochet for a tie. Therefore the kimono and sash both can be taken off and changed. I really liked how the sari ribbon edging looks on her. She’s just adorable! I love it!

Dec 4, 2009 Mad hatter hat

This is my hat I made from playing with stranded colorwork after my class at www.renaissanceyarns.com with Mary Scott Huff! The class started out with us all making our own motif on graph paper, doing some math, and off into stranded colorwork land we went! I knitted until the size seemed right did a 3 needle bind off. Then I made tassles added some wirewrapping and beads and here it is! I was hoping it would go ok with one of my previous attempts at stranded colorwork but I like this motif so much I may have to make some fingerless mits to match!!! This hat is my 3rd piece of stranded colorwork there’s a few mistakes but I love it! For the actual knitting: I use the EZ method of picking with my left hand in one color and throwing with my right hand in the color I want more prominent or raised.

Jan 5, 2010 Basic Cable Hat by Christine Quirion (in book Stitch n Bitch Nation)

I just had to buy this local yarn from http://moonshadowalpacas.com/ (after reading about it in the Wild Fibers Magazine) at Renaissance Yarns. It’s just a sensational dream to work with… I’m very pleased how this turned out!! And he wears it all the time! The yarn is unbelievably soft. I knit it very tight (small needle for the weight of the yarn) so the fabric is very dense and heavy. It has a soft halo of fuzz and is super soft! I did the decreases a little different so that the cables seemed to continue to follow the rib more closely. I knit with more repeats of the cable since my gauge was tighter.

Mar 14, 2010 Pattern: from Melissa Leapman’s Knitting Beyond Scarves book.

I’ve been working on this in between (started Jan 08) other projects talk about miles of garter! But I love it! It’s my first “sweater” even though it’s a ribbon pull-over:) I finished all the pieces 3-1-2010 but am doing a small doll version of the sweater to practice my finishing/seaming before I start on my sweater (that I’ve been working on for over 2 years off and on!) I lost quite a bit of weight between the start and finish of this project. I put in some darting/tapering at the bust line to bring it in. I also single crocheted the extra fabric onto the wrong side of the pull-over. I reinforced all the seams except for the on the sleeves. The pull over is very heavy despite (or because of the ribbon?) and quite lovely. I’m pretty happen with it for my first “sweater”. This I would have done different if I’d known… I would have seamed/finished the pieces as I finished knitting them rather doing ALL the finishing at once. It took TWO whole days of handsewing/seaming to finish it. Now, had I done the body/shoulders before doing the sleeves, I would have only the sleeves to sew on and finish:) I’m completely happy with having practiced seaming on my doll version before sewing my sized version. And I don’t mind finishing/handseaming but maybe not quite that much all at once next time:) I have another sweater the Kyoto that will a lot of handseaming so I’ll do that as I go along I hope:) And this yarn snags and splits very easy (even though I love it.) I completely recommend the Knit Clips for help in seaming. There’s a picture of me with the sleeve on with them in. They totally don’t snag the yarn and help tons!!!

Apr 6, 2010 Tempting pattern available for free

Home sick with the stomach flu and awaiting my first bjd so I started to work on some tops for her. I made this a little smaller since it’s supposed to be a tight fit. 4-6-2010 She arrived yesterday 5-3-2010 so of course I had to dress her! Here she is in her “Tempting” top. The pants were made by Marsh. The miniatures are from all over the world mostly Thailand, Hong Kong, U.S. and the UK. Emi, a coco doll made by Sleeping Elf, is a tiny bjd and only 15 cm in height. I have tons more pictures of her and her rooms in my flickr account. I’m also on DoA.

Mar - Apr 10, 2010 Scribble lace as described by Debbie New in her book Unexpected Knitting

Cast on 48 and knit in stockinette until I ran out of glam ribbon yarn. It blocked to 27”x52” which is maybe a little smaller than I’d like for a wrap. I’m considering sewing parts of it into a shrug. I’ll decide after it dries from the misting in it’s blocked form. 4-10-10

Yup 4-11-10 it’s a shrug! I love how this turned out. I sewed it the sleeves closed and it’s done! I even have enough left over fleece artist for some pedicure socks (I hope?) I might be addicted to scribble lace… I’m already planning another! Photos thanks to H! Also some just after blocking and before blocking. Gotta love those lace wires!

Apr 10, 2010 A different Scribble shawl

I’m randomly adding beads of freshwater pearls, cowrie shells, blue glass, and more to this scribble shawl by the hooking technique as outlined here on knitty.

However instead of using a crochet hook, I used a piece of nylon coated wire (the same stuff used for beaded necklaces that you’d use a crimp bead on) bent in half. I fold it over the knitted stitch that’d slipped off my knitting needle, then stick the wire through a bead, then pull the wire through the bead effectively pulling the bead onto the yarn. This is a similar technique used by folks who have trouble threading a needle the wire is easy to handle and allows me to knit along and then add a bead here or there.

I also routinely checked that the pearl hole was large enough for my bent wire tool if not I used a “bead awl” to open it a little bit. This turned out amazing! I would get sooooo many compliments while I was just knitting it! I wanted to be reminded of a trip to Monterey Bay and was thinking of the kelp, sea otters, and mermaids. I think it’s just gorgeous and funky all at the same time.

I did a long tail cast on of 40-some-stitches and bound off with “decrease bind off”. Now, it’s ready to be blocked 5-4-2010. Although I imagine blocking is optional.

More photos to come - or rather at least a couple of it on me! ha! So what’s up - blocked, unblocked, close ups of a couple of the beads: pale green fresh water pearl, cobalt blue glass, and dark green/dark grey fresh water pearl (not shown larger blue bead and smaller light blue beads.) Blocking with lace wires & blocking mats to 26”x62” 5-5-10 Wearing it for the first time and wow! it’s warm! Works perfectly with my shawl pin. It’s going on its debut to work and my LYS today:)

5-11-10 Another top for my doll, Emi. She's also sporting some jewelry I made for her. She's checking on the tomato starts in the window:) The pants were made by Marsh. Emi, a coco doll made by Sleeping Elf, is a tiny bjd and only 15 cm in height. I have tons more pictures of her and her rooms in my flickr account. I’m also on DoA.

Her top is from Nicki Epstein's Barbie Knitting Patterns book. I tried making a bikini set from the same book. I really like how the shorts turned out. I will probably make more of those! I knit them in the round to avoid seaming. The top I could use some more practice on. I wanted a casual comfy outfit for sleepwear. Her slippers are from ebay.

5-23-2010 We visited 11 shops on the LYStour Sunday (it's tour of small independent yarn shops over the greater Puget Sound and at each shop you receive 1-2 free one-skein patterns designed by the shop plus the corresponding yarn is on sale.) Each shop offers a door prize each day and if you go to all 25 shops in the four days of the tour - you're entered into the drawing for the great grand prizes.)

We started at one of our favorites Renaissance Yarns (well, actually I had popped over there on Thursday and fell in love with the pattern, an Alabaster Shawl designed by Michelle Maurer. I just HAD to buy the amazing yarn by Shaeffer yarns in 50% wool & 50% silk in a colorway named after famous women. I chose Rosa Parks! A mini-bio of her is included with the yarn.) I can't wait to start knitting the shawl! This is my favorite LYS tour pattern to date!!

Then we went to Cultured Purls in Issaquah. They have a lovely selection of yarns and notions. We picked up our patterns, a lace wine bottle cozy. Next was Hilltop Yarn in Bellevue where we picked up the crocheted "Infinity Scarf" and knit slouchy beret pattern. Acorn Street was our next stop where we picked up a "Sensational Cowl" pattern and we noted their great selection of yarns and buttons. At Weaving Works, we picked up a great knit long silky arm-warmer pattern and a crocheted denim baby sunhat. There I bought a little Nabucco yarn (27 yds) for a little top for my doll. They offer tons of classes and interesting yarns & buttons. At the Fiber Gallery, we remembered all the interesting yarns they carry including steel, scrubby, raffia, and more. H really liked their vintage scarf pattern and bought the corresponding yarn. I went a little crazy and bought 14 skeins of Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton enough to make a throw blanket. I remember seeing a lovely pattern for one in the book, Knitting in the Sun that has a drawstring bag travel feature. We swung into Bad Woman Yarns for their really nice pattern, Cascading Leaves Cowl. We have really liked their pattern every year. Then we went to our favorite Seattle shop, So Much Yarn and were greeted by our favorite French Bulldogs, Fiona and Angus. We picked up our free pattern, ruffled anklet socks, and I bough two more skeins of an alpaca lace paints by Cascade to match those that I'd purchased in March. At Seattle Yarn in West Seattle, we both bought the yarn to make the felted bag pattern. At Burien Yarn Stash, we also bough the yarn Cascade fixation to make the bottle cozy pattern, and I bought a bag of local Lollipop Cabin yarn in tiny balls of fingering for doll clothes. Our last stop the Knittery in Renton, had a lace face towel and I bought a couple needles I'd be keeping my eye for in small sizes OO and OOO. Then we had some tasty dinner at Lemongrass where I had the tastiest satay ever! Shitake yum! We did a bit of shopping in the new Uwajimaya and called it a day!

Starting the Alabaster Shawl pattern as mentioned above: 5-24-2010 I tried starting this and clearly did not know what I was doing. ha! I had to go in to Renaissance Yarns and get a little help even to start.

5-25-2010 After my rough start I realized I was still making some terrible mistakes and needed to rip out my first three inches. It is quite obvious to me I’ve never knit lace from a chart. And all the lace I’ve knit so far has been super easy:)

5-27-2010 I let this sit a couple days and went back to Renaissance yarns where I sat, started, and knit on this for over 2 hours with some help. Now, I seem to have gotten a good start but occasionally my stitches are off and I have tink back a little. However now it looks right! I am in love with this pattern so it’s a must-make and a good learning exercise:)

So far I’m using markers on either side of center stitch and one two stitches in on each side to remind me of the knit/garter edging.

Things I’ve learned so far:
1) lace knitting charts have blank spaces (no stitches) in them - do not knit these. ha!
2) I am to imagine this chart is folded in half and the stitch on the farthest left is the middle stitch (*not a mirror remember to always knit right to left - chart - see 6-3-2010)
3) purl all wrong side rows

5-28-2010 Gotta love Ravelry.com I did some cruising in “Techniques” for knitting lace tips. Here are things I’m going to try and see how they help.

1) Enlarge chart (I’m already using a magnet chart holder)
2) Color code - each icon for various stitches like K2Tog, SKP, etc. I have colored pencils so this should work/help.
3) fill in a number in long stretches of stockinette (so I don’t have to count 5 or 6 stitches that are only knit stitches)
4) additional markers at each chart repeat

5-30-20101 I was stuck again but on row 35. I was unsure how to repeat chart B so I went to the yarn shop for more help (yet again.)

1) Lifeline through row 34 (and will do again at each chart B repeat)
2) What I did was to repeat increases on either side of the highlighted (square) motif and then the motif multiple times across each row. So it looks like K2, yo, (increases), motif, motif, motif (multiple times), then (increases), then yo, center stitch, then reverse = yo, then (increases), motif, motif, motif (multiple times), then increases, yo, k2.
3) placed stitch markers at each motif repeat
4) if I count each motif and increase section against the number on the chart as I go, I seem to be making less mistakes. Each motif is 12 stitches for example. The increase sections are 4 total: one on each side of the center stitch and one on each outer edge these increase each by one stitch every other row. Keeping track as I knit along seems to be reducing my need to tink a row or two back when I miss a yo or some such thing:)

6-1-2010 When the pattern says repeat chart B - I’m doing all the rows of chart B not just the highlighted motif. After doing rows 11-34 which are all of them of chart B (even rows are purl only), I’ve increased enough stitches to add more motifs. This is the hep I needed from the post below.

6-3-2010 Now after reading in the Alabaster KAL on ravelry.com - the designers says the chart B is to be knit right to left on both sides of the center stitch (and of course it says that in the pattern but I guess I missed that)? what?! So now, I realize today I was knitting half of the shawl wrong. EEK! The kind yarn shop owner ripped out over a 100 rows of this shawl and re-winded the ball. So, yes I'm starting the whole thing OVER! The chart is to be read right to left on both sides of the center stitch. It's only yarn and time, right? Practice? I I love this yarn and the shawl is gorgeous. The yarn, the pattern, and I deserve this to be done correctly so there ya go. Do over! If it was just a stitch or two, I’d be willing to deal no one would know but this was waaaay too much. I’ll take photos again as I approach exciting points in the shawl but it’s back to a ball for today.

Later that same evening, I restarted it. Yes, I worked chart A once, then completed chart B, and left off before bed in my second time through chart B. It looks way better done correctly now that I know what to look for. Go me for stubbornness? determination?

*New cool lace learned thing - my interchangeable harmony needles have a hole for the tool for changing needle tips/cables and that perfectly holds dental floss for my lifeline. Now, I can set in a lifeline with NO work. Feed the floss into the hole on the right needle (remove stitch markers) and purl across an even row and the lifeline automatically follows the cable! How cool is that?!!! Next odd row, pick up my markers and it's always a good time to count my motifs and increases making sure I'm on track:) Thanks for tip, Renaissance Yarns!

6-5-2010 I'm really glad that we frogged my earlier work. I can see the pattern more easily now in the shawl, it seems to spread/lay better, the decreases and increases also spread/lay better, and it makes sense to me as I see it developing.

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8-20-2010 Mongolian Cashmere neckwarmer pattern

One skein: Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere

Pattern for a small neck 14-16"* cast-on 100 (over both needles for a loose cast on) on size 4 needles holding two strands together (knitting them as one) and work in the round the following two rows (cartridge rib) and repeat them until the length you wish is achieved. For a wider neck just cast on more stitches.

I used long tail for cast-on and used EZ sewn bind off to finish. If you don’t know how to do the bind off, click here for more details http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/FEATsum06TT.html

Gauge is 6 stitches to the inch in pattern (not-stretched at all)

Row 1: (K3, P1, K1) repeat to end
Row 2: (P2, K3) repeat to end

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9-12-2010 Alpaca WavesHat pattern by (me) to match above neckwarmer using Blue Sky 100%Alpaca Sport Weight and the left over Mongolian Cashmere - I'll be working on writing up these patterns soon, I promise! (below)

2-6-2012 Yes, I finally got around to completing the patterns Waves hat and matching neckwarmer in word and in pdf

And check my etsy site selling handmade jewelry and stitch markers and more!

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